0:00:02 > 0:00:03Welcome to Escape to the Country.
0:00:03 > 0:00:05We do love exploring canals on this show
0:00:05 > 0:00:08and if you're familiar with any part of the canal network,
0:00:08 > 0:00:11you'll know that the tried and tested way
0:00:11 > 0:00:14of getting a boat from a higher level of water to a lower one
0:00:14 > 0:00:17is to use the engineering marvel that is a lock -
0:00:17 > 0:00:21but what do you do if you have a tackle a rise of some 60 feet?
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Well, the answer here was to build five in a row...
0:00:24 > 0:00:26but where is here?
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Well, join me in just a moment and I'll tell you.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49On today's house-hunt, our buyers are searching
0:00:49 > 0:00:52for a very specific space...
0:00:52 > 0:00:55I don't think there's a room for the model railway.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58..but with a top selection of properties lined up...
0:00:58 > 0:01:01- Cheers! BOTH:- Cheers!
0:01:01 > 0:01:05I'm confident we'll find something to whet their appetites.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08- Oh!- Wow!- I like!
0:01:08 > 0:01:09A "wow!" You see!
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Look, we impressed you at the beginning, mate,
0:01:12 > 0:01:14and it was the right thing to do!
0:01:17 > 0:01:18Well, today we're in West Yorkshire,
0:01:18 > 0:01:20and this series of locks
0:01:20 > 0:01:23are known as the as the Bingley Five Rise Locks
0:01:23 > 0:01:25on the Leeds and Liverpool canal.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Built back in 1774,
0:01:28 > 0:01:30they're known as staircase locks,
0:01:30 > 0:01:33because each one opens directly onto the other.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Now, they're not the only staircase locks in Britain,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38but with a gradient of one in five,
0:01:38 > 0:01:39they are by far the steepest
0:01:39 > 0:01:43and they're just part of a landscape that's packed full of riches
0:01:43 > 0:01:45from one of my favourite periods
0:01:45 > 0:01:49in British history, the Industrial Revolution.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57West Yorkshire is one of four counties making up
0:01:57 > 0:01:59the region of Yorkshire.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03This land-locked county has long been known for its industrial past,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06signs of the wool and cloth industries remain visible
0:02:06 > 0:02:09in the rows of weavers' cottages and workers' houses
0:02:09 > 0:02:12built on ridges and overlooking the towering chimneys of mills
0:02:12 > 0:02:14in the valleys.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17The area's varied landscapes are vividly described
0:02:17 > 0:02:19in the work of the Bronte sisters -
0:02:19 > 0:02:23arguably West Yorkshire's most renowned literary exports.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Their childhood home, the Parsonage, in Haworth,
0:02:26 > 0:02:30has been open to visitors for over 75 years.
0:02:30 > 0:02:31Nine miles away,
0:02:31 > 0:02:33the market town of Hebden Bridge
0:02:33 > 0:02:37was built around water-powered weaving mills in the 19th century,
0:02:37 > 0:02:40but today is better known for its artistic identity,
0:02:40 > 0:02:45where streets are lined with artisan shops, galleries and cafes.
0:02:45 > 0:02:50West Yorkshire is also a county of excellent walking opportunities.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Visitors head to Ilkley Moor
0:02:52 > 0:02:55to enjoy its abundance of striking carved rocks,
0:02:55 > 0:02:57also popular for rock climbing.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01They're thought to date back as far as the late Neolithic or Bronze Age.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05Offering a captivating mix of outdoor pursuits,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09industrial heritage, pretty Pennine villages and literary landmarks,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12there's definitely no shortage of things to explore
0:03:12 > 0:03:14in West Yorkshire.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19You know, it's often a curious thing how house prices can vary
0:03:19 > 0:03:22so dramatically between one neighbouring county and another -
0:03:22 > 0:03:26and, here in Yorkshire, I think the numbers prove the point.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29In North Yorkshire, the average price of a detached property
0:03:29 > 0:03:32is currently £282,000 -
0:03:32 > 0:03:34but in West Yorkshire, well,
0:03:34 > 0:03:38you could get the same thing for £67,000 less.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42Doubtless the draw of the North York Moors and the national parks
0:03:42 > 0:03:45have helped up the figures up there, but nonetheless,
0:03:45 > 0:03:48West Yorkshire is not short on beautiful scenery either.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50So, let's meet today's buyers
0:03:50 > 0:03:53and find out why they want a slice of it.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Graeme and Denise have been married for eight years.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00They first met through their local amateur dramatics company
0:04:00 > 0:04:04and have been making each other laugh ever since.
0:04:04 > 0:04:08What I love most about Denise is her sense of humour,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11the sense of humour that is on the same wavelength as mine.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14The most romantic thing that Graeme's ever done
0:04:14 > 0:04:16is when he proposed,
0:04:16 > 0:04:21which was on top of haystacks in the Lake District.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23He'd taken up there a ring,
0:04:23 > 0:04:25he'd taken up half a bottle of champagne.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27He'd taken up glasses.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30- It was a smaller bottle of champagne.- Yeah.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33- No, it wasn't...!- Not half a bottle!
0:04:33 > 0:04:37No, just a small bottle because of carrying it up a mountain.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40Ten years ago, they bought their first home together,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42a five-bedroomed new build in Peterborough.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Close to family, Denise's work, and within commuting distance for London
0:04:46 > 0:04:49for railway project manager Graeme.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51The town's been a practical base for them both,
0:04:51 > 0:04:54but now they're looking to live out their retirement
0:04:54 > 0:04:56somewhere more idyllic.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59Whenever we drive up to Yorkshire,
0:04:59 > 0:05:03as soon as we leave the main road
0:05:03 > 0:05:07and we're in amongst dry stone walls and hills,
0:05:07 > 0:05:11there's a feeling comes over us, isn't there?
0:05:11 > 0:05:14- Just a... Whew! Just that...- Yeah. - A real nice feeling, isn't it?
0:05:14 > 0:05:17And, it's... And I guess that touches the heart.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21Both keen walkers, they're drawn to the varied landscapes,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24hills and mountains of Yorkshire's National Parks -
0:05:24 > 0:05:27but, for Graeme, there's an even deeper pull.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30For me, it's a roots thing.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32I come from Yorkshire
0:05:32 > 0:05:35and we used to go into the Dales regularly as a child.
0:05:35 > 0:05:40The countryside lifestyle means that we can get into the scenery
0:05:40 > 0:05:42and drink it in. I'm interested in photography,
0:05:42 > 0:05:46so, for me, photographing landscape
0:05:46 > 0:05:49is going to be a great opportunity for me.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52And when it comes to buying the right property,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55the couple have a number of indoor hobbies to consider, too.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59Having retired from the railway industry,
0:05:59 > 0:06:06I have always hankered after building a model railway.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08So, I've built up quite a collection.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10I've got to get on and build it now.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13I'm usually in another room, reading my book,
0:06:13 > 0:06:17or I might be in the kitchen doing some cooking.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20So, with their house under offer, the wheels are certainly in motion.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24What's more, Graeme and Denise are hoping their forthcoming move
0:06:24 > 0:06:27won't be as stressful as their last.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31On the day of exchange, the couple that were selling pulled out,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33which meant that we were homeless.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37We have some very good friends who were holidaying in France.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40We lived in their house for a month
0:06:40 > 0:06:45and in that month we found this house and moved in.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47And it was fate.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51This time we're hoping for a much easier purchase.
0:06:51 > 0:06:56We don't want any of the disasters that we had last time!
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Our couple are open to looking anywhere
0:07:01 > 0:07:02in the West Yorkshire countryside,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05with great walking opportunities nearby,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08which gives us great scope for the search.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11All I need to know are the exact requirements for their dream home.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Well, welcome back to West Yorkshire, mate.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18How does it feel to be back on your old patch?
0:07:18 > 0:07:20It feels absolutely great. It feels like coming home.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23And how do you feel about being up here?
0:07:23 > 0:07:25I'm very happy about being up here.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27- I love it up here.- I gather you've just sold your house?
0:07:27 > 0:07:29Yeah, really good news.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31- Daunting?- Yes.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Yes, of course!
0:07:33 > 0:07:36So, give us a picture, then, of the sort of thing you're imagining.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39A rural location would be lovely.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41- Not isolated.- Yeah.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45A character property is fine,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48but I'd like it nice... modern inside.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Modern inside. So we've got an idea of broad style,
0:07:51 > 0:07:53but what does it need to have?
0:07:53 > 0:07:56What components are you particularly looking for, Denise?
0:07:56 > 0:08:00At least four bedrooms and a nice kitchen.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04I have an ambition to build a model railway,
0:08:04 > 0:08:08so what we would like, additionally to the four bedrooms,
0:08:08 > 0:08:10is a railway room.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12Somewhere big enough for me to build the model.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16OK, so something with a bit of character about it.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18You don't obviously want a project?
0:08:18 > 0:08:22- No.- No.- Now you've sold, what's the budget for this new move?
0:08:22 > 0:08:27Our maximum budget, if everything has been done, would be £500,000.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30I'm pretty optimistic as to what the property market can offer you.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34The one thing I'm not too sure about is the weather today, hence these -
0:08:34 > 0:08:36but you're good to go and so am I.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Come on. Let's see what we can find you.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40Half a million!
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Graeme and Denise are hoping their budget of £500,000
0:08:45 > 0:08:48will get them a property with a modern interior
0:08:48 > 0:08:50and at least four bedrooms.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Denise would like a good-sized kitchen
0:08:52 > 0:08:55and Graeme needs a separate hobby room for his model railway -
0:08:55 > 0:08:57and they'd like a balance of a rural location
0:08:57 > 0:08:59that's close to a community.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04We've got three great characterful properties ready to tempt them with
0:09:04 > 0:09:06all in idyllic countryside settings.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09At each one I'll be asking them to guess the asking price,
0:09:09 > 0:09:12before I reveal it at the end of the tours.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14Our last stop will be our Mystery House.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16A unique property,
0:09:16 > 0:09:19which I hope will engineer a good response from Graeme and Denise.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24- So, you've got four children between you.- Yes.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26How many grandchildren?
0:09:26 > 0:09:27- Seven.- Seven!
0:09:28 > 0:09:32- Yes.- How do they feel about you moving away from a familiar home?
0:09:32 > 0:09:34They're behind us all the way.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37It will them an opportunity for some quality time with us
0:09:37 > 0:09:39when they do come and stay.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41- No wonder you need four bedrooms, Denise!- Yes.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44It will be like running a B&B, won't it?
0:09:44 > 0:09:46I think it will be, yes.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52Our search begins in the village of Eldwick, in the north of the county.
0:09:52 > 0:09:53With scenic countryside
0:09:53 > 0:09:56and endless walking opportunities on its doorstep,
0:09:56 > 0:09:59this location offers a rural lifestyle
0:09:59 > 0:10:01with all the conveniences of village life.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04There's a post office, a number of shops,
0:10:04 > 0:10:08a hairdressers and, of course, a public house.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12There's also an active community, with a number of local clubs,
0:10:12 > 0:10:15societies and events, including an annual beer festival.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17A five-minute walk from the shops,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21our first house is perched on the banks of the Eldwick Beck,
0:10:21 > 0:10:22at the edge of the village.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28So, this is where it begins to really reveal itself.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30- It's lovely.- There you are!
0:10:30 > 0:10:32- What do you think of that, then? - That's lovely.- Yeah.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35What you've got here, Graeme
0:10:35 > 0:10:38are two former mill workers' cottages,
0:10:38 > 0:10:42but, obviously, in more recent times it's been converted into one,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45I think, very spacious family home.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49From this position, it doesn't look very big.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51Ah! Probably what you're struggling with
0:10:51 > 0:10:52is the fact it's set into this hillside -
0:10:52 > 0:10:55but I think you'll find on the inside it does open up
0:10:55 > 0:10:57to reveal quite a spacious property
0:10:57 > 0:10:59that has a number of things going for it,
0:10:59 > 0:11:01which I hope you'll pick up on.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04- Lovely.- Come on! Let's have a look.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08This stone-built cottage dates back to the early 1800s,
0:11:08 > 0:11:12but benefits from some recent additions and improvements.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15The ground floor flows from room to room,
0:11:15 > 0:11:17without the use of a central hallway,
0:11:17 > 0:11:21with an entrance that leads directly into the living room.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23This is what greets you.
0:11:23 > 0:11:24This lovely fireplace.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27It's lovely. Nice and cosy.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Is this the sort of thing that you would find welcoming, Graeme?
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Yeah. Absolutely.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Probably a little bit smaller than we've currently got,
0:11:35 > 0:11:37don't you think, as a lounge?
0:11:37 > 0:11:38Maybe. But it's...
0:11:38 > 0:11:40It hasn't got as many doors out of it. So...
0:11:40 > 0:11:42- I like it.- Yeah? OK.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45So it's very much geared up to draw you this way,
0:11:45 > 0:11:46which it does quite nicely.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48You've got this area here, this little snug,
0:11:48 > 0:11:50and then through into here and the kitchen,
0:11:50 > 0:11:54through this rather ornate sort of screen arrangement.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56- I love that. - Yes, that's very nice.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Yes. I like the kitchen as well.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01- It's nice, isn't it?- It's lovely.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03I do find this really attractive.
0:12:03 > 0:12:04Yes, I do. It's lovely.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06However, if I'm being brutality honest,
0:12:06 > 0:12:10I think it interrupts what you would do with that space through there.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14Because I would love to see this as a more open kitchen/diner.
0:12:14 > 0:12:15- BOTH:- Yes.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Practically speaking, it is a better use of that space, isn't it?
0:12:19 > 0:12:22There's also a separate sort of utility-cum-glory hole
0:12:22 > 0:12:25just through a little door here. Very much a sort of walk-in larder.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28I mean, they've got another separate dining room through here.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32It's tempting to think that might rattle to the sound of trains
0:12:32 > 0:12:34clinking over tracks, possibly.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37- OK.- However, I think there are some other options.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39- OK.- Upstairs.- OK.
0:12:39 > 0:12:40Right. Off you go.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Through that door, mate. Let's see what we've got up here.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Upstairs, there are four good-sized bedrooms.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Two singles and two doubles,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51so plenty of space for the family to stay.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54As well as options to house Graeme's model railway.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56There's also a modern family bathroom
0:12:56 > 0:12:58and a separate shower room.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03So, this being the biggest, not surprisingly,
0:13:03 > 0:13:05- is the master.- Yes.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07That's lovely. Really good size, isn't it?
0:13:07 > 0:13:10- Yeah.- It's nicely presented, as well, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14I like it. I think it's a very cosy, amenable building, actually.
0:13:14 > 0:13:19- Yes.- Yes. I think cosy is the operative word there.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21Has it grown on you, Graeme?
0:13:21 > 0:13:23Because I have a feeling this one had a bit of work to do.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Certainly the decor.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30The presentation is superb.
0:13:30 > 0:13:35Size is probably the thing for me, because I like space,
0:13:35 > 0:13:41and that's the thing that this doesn't have in spades, as it were.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44It's a life on the railway, he's used to these big, open spaces.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Come on, let's go back outside to the garden.
0:13:48 > 0:13:53Despite its four bedrooms, generous living spaces and beautiful finish,
0:13:53 > 0:13:58I suspect this house isn't quite living up to the dream for Graeme -
0:13:58 > 0:13:59but heading outside,
0:13:59 > 0:14:01the property is surrounded by well-maintained gardens
0:14:01 > 0:14:06and there's a small patio with seating area.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10So, pretty much back where we started.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13I think you and I think it's a nice, cosy little number, don't we?
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Yes. It's cosy, it's got a nice comforting feel about it.
0:14:16 > 0:14:18I still like it.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Well, let's see if the price has an effect on that.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Who's going to go first, then?
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- You go first.- I think it's about...
0:14:26 > 0:14:29- £465,000 I'm going to go for. - £465,000.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32OK, I was thinking slightly less than that.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34So I'll say £450,000.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36£450,000.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40You're both wrong, I am afraid.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44It's on at £495,000.
0:14:44 > 0:14:45Wow!
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Irrespective of its price,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50is this a property that you think you could be happy in?
0:14:51 > 0:14:53I could be, yes.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56There you go!
0:14:56 > 0:14:59Maybe that tells me all I need to know, Graeme.
0:14:59 > 0:15:00Well, look, have a wander around.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Explore it at your leisure and I'll come and find you a bit later on.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- Go on.- Thanks.- Off you go!
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Coming in just under budget,
0:15:09 > 0:15:11this superb detached character property
0:15:11 > 0:15:14has the four bedrooms Graeme and Denise asked for,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17one of which Graeme could use for his model railway
0:15:17 > 0:15:20and a kitchen with the potential to be opened up into the next room.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23It's in a great location on the edge of a village
0:15:23 > 0:15:25in the middle of the Yorkshire countryside.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30I think this would make an ideal study for us
0:15:30 > 0:15:32rather than a dining room.
0:15:32 > 0:15:33Yeah, I'd agree.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37I think Graeme will be thinking that this place is too small for us.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41He does like space, and I don't think it will be the one for him.
0:15:41 > 0:15:47I think I probably would not see myself living here.
0:15:47 > 0:15:48It hasn't given me that...
0:15:49 > 0:15:53..wow factor when I first walked in.
0:15:53 > 0:15:54Well, madam, perfect timing!
0:15:55 > 0:15:57- All done?- Yes, thank you.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01Right, the weather is changing,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04I hate to say it, we may well need these, I suspect, later on.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08I think a good start and a good insight into what you're after.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11Yeah - and also an indication of what we get for our money.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14Well, isn't that the battle?
0:16:14 > 0:16:15Come on, let's keep fighting!
0:16:21 > 0:16:22Much of Yorkshire's landscape
0:16:22 > 0:16:26is etched with farmland and fields given over to agriculture.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29The farming industry makes an important contribution
0:16:29 > 0:16:31to the region's economy,
0:16:31 > 0:16:35with milk from its cattle bringing in over £200 million a year.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38One family dairy farm in Denby Dale
0:16:38 > 0:16:40had decided to do something a little different
0:16:40 > 0:16:42with the milk from its Friesian cows,
0:16:42 > 0:16:44producing a local delicacy
0:16:44 > 0:16:47which should be of interest to keen cook, Denise.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50We're sending her and Graeme to meet Louise Holmes,
0:16:50 > 0:16:52who runs the farm with her husband.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55- Hello.- Has there always been a farm here?
0:16:55 > 0:16:57Yes, since the 1960s,
0:16:57 > 0:16:59it was started by my husband's grandad
0:16:59 > 0:17:01and then passed on to his father and on to my husband.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03And has it always been a dairy farm?
0:17:03 > 0:17:06It has, but in 2007 we diversified into making ice cream.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09We both wanted to do something a little bit different.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10We had a surplus of cream on the farm,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13so we wanted to find something that we could use it for,
0:17:13 > 0:17:15and ice cream was both of our passions,
0:17:15 > 0:17:17and it allowed us to be more adventurous
0:17:17 > 0:17:18with what we were producing here.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21What makes your ice cream so special?
0:17:21 > 0:17:22Well, it's all made here on the farm.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25It's made from the milk from these cows that you see behind you here,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29and it's made to ice cream within 24 to 48 hours of them being milked.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31So it's as fresh as you can get it.
0:17:31 > 0:17:32So, come on, let's go and make some ice cream.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34Yes, please.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39The 250-acre farm is home to 110 cows
0:17:39 > 0:17:43that produce a total of 800,000 litres of milk a year.
0:17:43 > 0:17:4710% of it goes into the production of their award-winning ice cream,
0:17:47 > 0:17:52which is sold across the region and in the farm's own ice cream parlour.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54I really enjoy making puddings, Louise,
0:17:54 > 0:17:57but I have to say, I've never made ice cream - so, what's the process?
0:17:57 > 0:17:58Well, it's quite simple, really.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01It's a bit like making a cake in reverse.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03So lots of milk, a bit of cream.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05It goes into a big pasteuriser,
0:18:05 > 0:18:07and then we put that pasteuriser on to heat,
0:18:07 > 0:18:09so it starts to heat it towards 85 degrees centigrade,
0:18:09 > 0:18:11so, very hot.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14As it's halfway through the process of heating up, we add our sugars.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17And then the machine chills it as fast as possible,
0:18:17 > 0:18:18down to four degrees.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20And that then sits in the pasteuriser overnight,
0:18:20 > 0:18:21which is called ageing.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25The next day, we come and use that mix to make our ice cream.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Along with all the old favourites,
0:18:27 > 0:18:29they also produce some more unusual flavours,
0:18:29 > 0:18:32which are specialities of the local area,
0:18:32 > 0:18:34including a recipe that has its roots
0:18:34 > 0:18:37just half an hour's drive away in the market town of Pontefract.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Today, we're going to make Pontefract cake ice cream.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43What other flavours do you do here?
0:18:43 > 0:18:44We make all sorts of flavours.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47We have experimented with things like black garlic,
0:18:47 > 0:18:49which is really rather quite nice.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51It doesn't sound wonderful, but it is.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54And then we do a most unusual flavour for Yorkshire, though,
0:18:54 > 0:18:58- which is our Yorkshire pudding gravy and raspberry vinegar flavour.- Ugh!
0:18:58 > 0:19:01I know! I can see from your reaction, you love it!
0:19:01 > 0:19:03So, is the flavour popular?
0:19:03 > 0:19:05It's a bit of a love-hate flavour,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08because, obviously, gravy's really quite salty when you taste it,
0:19:08 > 0:19:12but with the sweetness of the ice cream, love it or hate it.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15As well as the hand-cut Pontefract cake pieces,
0:19:15 > 0:19:18Louise also uses a liquorice paste,
0:19:18 > 0:19:20which she adds to the ice cream base mix
0:19:20 > 0:19:23for a more intense flavour before it's churned in the batch freezer.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26So we are ready to add our Pontefract cakes
0:19:26 > 0:19:29that we cut up so nicely earlier on.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31So, if you want to try some ice cream,
0:19:31 > 0:19:32see what you think of it.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Oh, it's lovely! I mean, I don't like liquorice, but I have to say,
0:19:40 > 0:19:44honestly, it's subtle and it's so smooth and creamy, it's gorgeous.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48It will be even better after you've tasted it with these in it.
0:19:48 > 0:19:49Business is steadily growing,
0:19:49 > 0:19:52and now Louise and her husband produce
0:19:52 > 0:19:55around 33,000 litres of ice cream a year.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58In the midst of a struggling UK dairy industry,
0:19:58 > 0:20:00success has come at the right time,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02and their ice cream production has proved a great way
0:20:02 > 0:20:05of adding value to the milk from their cows.
0:20:08 > 0:20:13It's lovely! I just had a chip of the Pontefract cake,
0:20:13 > 0:20:15and it really sets it off.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18See, it's worth all that cutting upstairs, isn't it?
0:20:18 > 0:20:19Good luck with the house-hunting,
0:20:19 > 0:20:21and I'm hoping you become a regular here.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23- Thank you very much. - Thank you very much.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26- It's been really enjoyable. - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28So, with bellies full of delicious ice cream,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31I'm glad Graeme and Denise have found something in West Yorkshire
0:20:31 > 0:20:35to their taste. Let's hope they like our next property just as much.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Our next stop is near the village of Harden,
0:20:42 > 0:20:45just three miles from our first house.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Nestled in a valley amidst woodland and farmland,
0:20:48 > 0:20:49the village is a favoured base
0:20:49 > 0:20:52for both commuters to nearby Bradford and Leeds,
0:20:52 > 0:20:54as well as those exploring the local landscape,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57with footpaths up to the surrounding moorland.
0:20:57 > 0:21:02Locals are well served by a school, a popular pub and a number of shops,
0:21:02 > 0:21:05including a post office and a butcher's.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08The property we're here to see is just a two-minute drive away,
0:21:08 > 0:21:10in a hamlet called Ryecroft,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13a conservation area made up of local stone cottages
0:21:13 > 0:21:14and agricultural buildings,
0:21:14 > 0:21:18which still look attractive even in the predicted downpour.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21Right, then, you two, this is...
0:21:23 > 0:21:25..our next offering. What do you think of that?
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Oh, wow! I think that looks lovely!
0:21:28 > 0:21:29- Looks impressive.- It does.- Yeah.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32So, Denise, I think this has rather tickled your fancy,
0:21:32 > 0:21:34- hasn't it?- It certainly has.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Now, when we go through the door, you have a choice,
0:21:36 > 0:21:39we can either go into the kitchen or the living room first.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41- What would you prefer? - Kitchen, please.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43Right, OK. Kitchen it is.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45Come on then.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48This Grade II Listed stone barn was originally a cow shed
0:21:48 > 0:21:51owned by the hamlet's most prominent family
0:21:51 > 0:21:53from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55Converted over ten years ago,
0:21:55 > 0:21:59I'm confident it will deliver not only on character, but also space,
0:21:59 > 0:22:01which should keep Graeme happy, too.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Oh, yes! Oh, yes!
0:22:05 > 0:22:08- Very nice!- As you can see, the island here,
0:22:08 > 0:22:12nicely sort of separates these two zones.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14I mean you could, I suppose, have this as a dining end,
0:22:14 > 0:22:17but there is also space for that next door -
0:22:17 > 0:22:19but have a drink of this,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22because it also comes with its own spring.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25So, try this.
0:22:25 > 0:22:26- Cheers! BOTH:- Cheers.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31- Lovely!- Oh, that's...
0:22:31 > 0:22:33- Yes, very nice. - Isn't it? Very sweet.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36- Oh!- It's run through a UV filter in here.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40It's all in there.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43So, you've got your own free mineral water...
0:22:44 > 0:22:48..bottled at source. Come and have a look at the living room,
0:22:48 > 0:22:50that's through across the hall way.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54At the back of the property, just off the kitchen,
0:22:54 > 0:22:57is a useful utility room, and on the other side of the house
0:22:57 > 0:22:59is a wonderful dual aspect living room.
0:22:59 > 0:23:01- There!- Oh, very nice.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03Plenty of room, isn't there?
0:23:03 > 0:23:06And you can see why they've not put the dining table next door.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Because you've got plenty of space in here.
0:23:09 > 0:23:10Is this working its magic more on you, Graeme?
0:23:10 > 0:23:12It is.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14This gives me a greater sense of space.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16- Yeah.- Good! Excellent.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18- Because you really like it, don't you?- I do.- Yay, you see?
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Right, let's have a look upstairs.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22There's a little treat for you.
0:23:22 > 0:23:23Think railways!
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Upstairs, it offers up all the space they requested,
0:23:28 > 0:23:32with two generous double bedrooms and a smaller single,
0:23:32 > 0:23:34all with exposed beams.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36There's also a stylish family bathroom,
0:23:36 > 0:23:38as well as a vast master bedroom.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Now, again, this is not short on space.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44It certainly isn't.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45That is a big room.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47- It's huge, isn't it?- It is.
0:23:47 > 0:23:48An unusual shape.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50It also has a shower en suite here...
0:23:50 > 0:23:53- Very nice.- ..which is great. Is there anything you'd change?
0:23:53 > 0:23:56I think I'd zizz it up a little bit
0:23:56 > 0:23:57with a bit of colour here and there.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59- In the furnishings. - In the furnishings.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Yes. Just to make it more of our own.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Yeah. Now, I did promise you a little treat.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07Through this door.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09See if my thinking is on your wavelength.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Now, Graeme, ha-ha,
0:24:14 > 0:24:19the current owners are using this mezzanine space as their office -
0:24:19 > 0:24:22but would it not be fun to try and think of a way
0:24:22 > 0:24:23of getting the railway
0:24:23 > 0:24:25so that it could run out here
0:24:25 > 0:24:28through some elaborate sort of bridge system.
0:24:28 > 0:24:29Yeah, I mean,
0:24:29 > 0:24:33I'm just wondering whether it would be big enough,
0:24:33 > 0:24:35but it's a possibility, isn't it?
0:24:35 > 0:24:40It also, I suppose, taps into your drama roots, doesn't it?
0:24:40 > 0:24:42A balcony, a play,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45a Romeo... Right, let's leave it there.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Come on, let's go outside and talk about the price,
0:24:47 > 0:24:49altogether far more serious issue.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55I'm slightly concerned Graeme seems to have tunnel vision
0:24:55 > 0:24:58when it comes to housing his model railway.
0:24:58 > 0:24:59If it's more space he needs,
0:24:59 > 0:25:03then perhaps he'd be better off creating something outside.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07I think we'd all agree, it's a really interesting property.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11Yes, I don't think there's a room for the model railway.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15But, I mean, what about the model railway in a bespoke shed.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17- Out here?- Out here.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19Yeah. I mean, that's a possibility.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21OK, so, let's talk about the price, then.
0:25:21 > 0:25:22Come on, then, Graeme?
0:25:22 > 0:25:24OK, me to go first.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28- I'm going to say £475,000.- £475,000?
0:25:28 > 0:25:29I was thinking £450,000.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31This is interesting,
0:25:31 > 0:25:34because it's a direct comparison with property number one.
0:25:34 > 0:25:39It's also on the market for £495,000.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41It is surprising, actually...
0:25:41 > 0:25:45- Yes.- ..how steep the property market can be.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47I'm going to give the house one more shot.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49It can do its best. Off you go,
0:25:49 > 0:25:51have a wander around, and I'll come and find you a little bit later on.
0:25:51 > 0:25:56- OK. Thank you.- In fact, it won't be that long, it's pouring with rain!
0:25:58 > 0:26:02This characterful barn conversion certainly delivers on space,
0:26:02 > 0:26:03with four bedrooms,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06a great-sized kitchen for keen cook Denise,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09and if Graeme's model railway doesn't fit on the mezzanine level,
0:26:09 > 0:26:12he could custom-build a shed for it in the garden.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16What I like about this property,
0:26:16 > 0:26:20I like the kitchen and the area to the side of it.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22I love the size of the lounge.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24That mezzanine area is really nice.
0:26:25 > 0:26:30This property has more space than the first house we saw.
0:26:30 > 0:26:36The problem for me is my need for this, for my model railway
0:26:36 > 0:26:41and the room that had been considered
0:26:41 > 0:26:43would be possible for the model railway,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45I didn't see as being big enough.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48What I've taken away from today
0:26:48 > 0:26:53is that maybe we're not looking in the right area for our budget.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56The properties have been a lot more expensive
0:26:56 > 0:26:58than, certainly, both of us anticipated.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00So maybe we have to have a rethink.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05So, that's it. Day one of house-hunting is over -
0:27:05 > 0:27:07and I can offer you another choice,
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Yorkshire tea, Yorkshire beer?
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- That's a hard decision! - It's not that hard, is it?
0:27:14 > 0:27:15Come on!
0:27:26 > 0:27:27Retired railway manager Graeme
0:27:27 > 0:27:30dreams of returning to his roots in West Yorkshire,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32taking wife Denise with him.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34With a budget of £500,000,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37they're hoping to swap their new-build Peterborough home
0:27:37 > 0:27:42of ten years for a picture-perfect pad in the Yorkshire countryside.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44Coming up, it looks like our Mystery House
0:27:44 > 0:27:47is on the right track for Graeme...
0:27:47 > 0:27:48I like simple.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51THEY LAUGH
0:27:51 > 0:27:52What does that tell us?
0:27:55 > 0:27:57..and I try to look the part on my visit
0:27:57 > 0:28:00to one of Yorkshire's last remaining wool mills.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02- Yeah! That's the business. - That's terrific.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05And do you know what? It's so light, I don't even know I'm wearing it.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09Well, the brochures will tell you
0:28:09 > 0:28:12that the sun always shines in Yorkshire...
0:28:12 > 0:28:15but not today. Not on our final day of house-hunting here
0:28:15 > 0:28:17with Graeme and with Denise.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20So far, we've seen two properties, but we've struggled for space,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23particularly for Graeme's train set.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26So what can we come up with on our final day?
0:28:26 > 0:28:29Well, it is, of course, time to reveal our Mystery House.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32This has everything they are looking for,
0:28:32 > 0:28:35but I suspect it's not quite where they might have expected to find it.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Our Mystery House takes us to Todmorden,
0:28:40 > 0:28:42in the west of the county,
0:28:42 > 0:28:44near the Lancashire border.
0:28:44 > 0:28:47The small market town has a big industrial history,
0:28:47 > 0:28:50and is known for a prosperous cotton and textile trade.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53Walsden Water, a tributary of the river Calder,
0:28:53 > 0:28:56runs through the town and represents the historic boundary
0:28:56 > 0:28:59between Yorkshire and Lancashire.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03Straddling the water, the town hall was once situated in both counties,
0:29:03 > 0:29:07until the administrative county border was altered in 1888,
0:29:07 > 0:29:10placing the whole town firmly in Yorkshire.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Today, there's a diverse range of shops and restaurants,
0:29:13 > 0:29:15including a toy and model museum,
0:29:15 > 0:29:18which might be of interest to model train collector, Graeme.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20The house we're seeing is in a quiet rural spot,
0:29:20 > 0:29:23just over a mile from the centre of town.
0:29:24 > 0:29:28Well, there we are then, madam, and sir, that is our Mystery House.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30- What do you think of that? - Very interesting.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32Yeah. Different.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34- Certainly different. - Well, sort of different.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38This is yet another barn, but this one is considerably older.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40This one dates to 1666.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44- Oh, my goodness.- Is this the sort of aspect you were really looking for?
0:29:44 > 0:29:46Yes. Yes, it is.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48I know it's rural, but it's not isolated.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50There are other properties around.
0:29:51 > 0:29:52- That's fine for me.- Yeah.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55The other great thing that this property comes with
0:29:55 > 0:29:58is this garage structure here, Graeme.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01Now you can see, on the left there's garaging itself.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04On the right, this is currently a music studio,
0:30:04 > 0:30:06but I'm thinking it's the perfect railway room.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08Yeah, OK.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10- That's got potential. - So, here's my plan -
0:30:10 > 0:30:14- we go in there first...- Yeah.- ..and then we go into the main property.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16- What do you think of that? - Good idea.- Sounds good.
0:30:16 > 0:30:17Right, let's do railways.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22One reason why we've selected this Grade II Listed barn
0:30:22 > 0:30:23as our Mystery House
0:30:23 > 0:30:26is because it's by far the most rural of the properties
0:30:26 > 0:30:28we've found for Graeme and Denise,
0:30:28 > 0:30:32although I'm happy to say, that doesn't seem to have put them off.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Now, then Graeme, come on,
0:30:34 > 0:30:37don't say we don't care, or we haven't listened!
0:30:37 > 0:30:39That's a good size.
0:30:39 > 0:30:40A good size! It's fantastic.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42There's a smile on his face.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44- Look at it!- Yeah, this works.
0:30:44 > 0:30:49I think we can safely say we've ticked off the railway box, yeah?
0:30:49 > 0:30:51- Yeah.- Right then, let's get on with the main event,
0:30:51 > 0:30:52- which is your Mystery House.- OK.
0:30:52 > 0:30:53Follow me.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57So, the outbuilding's got the green light from Graeme.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00Now it's time for me to get Denise on board, too.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04I think this is the obvious place to start...
0:31:05 > 0:31:07..Denise.
0:31:07 > 0:31:08That's more like it.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10- Yeah?- Yes. Definitely.
0:31:10 > 0:31:12- Nice, isn't it?- Very nice.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15Listen to him! We've got the railway all sorted, mate.
0:31:15 > 0:31:16"I don't care now.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19"The kitchen's perfectly good. Have what you like, Denise."
0:31:19 > 0:31:22- That is lovely.- Good!
0:31:22 > 0:31:23Yeah, yeah, positive feeling.
0:31:23 > 0:31:28Yes! Excellent! So glad we did the railway thing first.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30Right, come and look at the living room.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33As we head on, at the back of the hall way,
0:31:33 > 0:31:37there's also a useful study area.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40- So...- Ah, yes. Again, this is much better.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42It's a lovely space, isn't it?
0:31:42 > 0:31:44- Very nice.- It's very simple.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47I think you can come in here, redecorate, make it your own,
0:31:47 > 0:31:48within, you know, a few days, really.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50- Yes.- Yeah.- Definitely.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53Yeah. I mean, I like simple.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56THEY LAUGH
0:31:56 > 0:31:57What does that tell us?
0:32:00 > 0:32:02But I take your point.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04I do take your point.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06- Simple is good. It works for me. - Yes, it is.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08- Plain and simple's good.- Yeah.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Right, then!
0:32:10 > 0:32:12Come on, let's go upstairs.
0:32:14 > 0:32:15Heading upstairs,
0:32:15 > 0:32:17the double-height entrance hall
0:32:17 > 0:32:20creates a superb light galleried landing,
0:32:20 > 0:32:22leading to three well-presented double bedrooms,
0:32:22 > 0:32:25offering plenty of room to accommodate visiting family
0:32:25 > 0:32:30and a large bathroom, as well as the master en suite.
0:32:30 > 0:32:31There we are. Finally.
0:32:31 > 0:32:33Yours. Wow!
0:32:33 > 0:32:35- I like.- A wow!
0:32:35 > 0:32:38- Yeah.- You see, look, we impressed you at the beginning, mate,
0:32:38 > 0:32:40and it was the right thing to do.
0:32:40 > 0:32:41- I like this.- I do.- It's very nice.
0:32:41 > 0:32:44You've got a very nice en suite around the corner there,
0:32:44 > 0:32:47and then this spiral leads up to a mezzinine
0:32:47 > 0:32:49which they're using as a little media room at the moment.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51- Right.- It's rather nice, actually.
0:32:51 > 0:32:54The skylight gives the room so much light, as well.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56It's lovely.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58- I like it very much.- Ah!
0:32:58 > 0:33:01Right, then! So we've pleased you and we've pleased you.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05Let's see what the price does to that equation.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10Outside, the main garden lies to the front of the property,
0:33:10 > 0:33:13and so makes the most of the ordinarily lovely views.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17Now then, it is still pouring...
0:33:18 > 0:33:22..and my suggestion is that we don't bother getting wet again.
0:33:22 > 0:33:24I think you can see what the garden has to offer from here.
0:33:24 > 0:33:26- Happy with the house?- Yes.
0:33:26 > 0:33:28Happy with the railway thing?
0:33:28 > 0:33:30- Absolutely.- Good!
0:33:30 > 0:33:34Happiness all round, then. So what's it on the market for?
0:33:34 > 0:33:37I think this property is worth £490,000.
0:33:37 > 0:33:39£490,000.
0:33:39 > 0:33:44- Yeah. Graeme?- I'm going to say top of our budget, £500,000.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46You are pretty much spot on, Graeme.
0:33:46 > 0:33:52- This is on the market for £499,950. - Right.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56- What do you think of the price? - I think it reflects the property.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58Good! That's the right answer.
0:33:58 > 0:33:59So, go and have a wander around,
0:33:59 > 0:34:02and I will catch up with you a little bit later on.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04Off you go.
0:34:04 > 0:34:05- OK.- OK.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09Well, I think that's all turned out rather well, you know?
0:34:11 > 0:34:13This 17th century converted barn
0:34:13 > 0:34:16would give Graeme and Denise all the space they were hoping for.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19There are four generous bedrooms and a large kitchen,
0:34:19 > 0:34:21as well as a designated outbuilding
0:34:21 > 0:34:24for Graeme's all-important model railway -
0:34:24 > 0:34:26and it's all set in a rural location,
0:34:26 > 0:34:28with magnificent countryside views.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30I really like this house.
0:34:30 > 0:34:31I love the layout.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34It's a lovely property in a stunning location.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39I feel very comfortable in this house.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41It's warm and inviting.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45And the mystery property has delivered
0:34:45 > 0:34:48when we were about to give up hope.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52So, I think that was well worth you seeing.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54Yes, it was.
0:34:54 > 0:34:55And I think, overall,
0:34:55 > 0:34:57we've given you plenty to consider this week
0:34:57 > 0:34:59in terms of the properties we've been able to find you
0:34:59 > 0:35:01for your £500,000.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04- Are you going to spend it? - We may well do.- Ah!
0:35:04 > 0:35:07Well, let's get you somewhere where you can mull it all over,
0:35:07 > 0:35:09- and we'll see what happens next. Come on.- Yeah.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18With evidence of Yorkshire's heritage
0:35:18 > 0:35:21in the milling and weaving industries all around,
0:35:21 > 0:35:24I'm taking some time out to visit one of the few,
0:35:24 > 0:35:27so-called vertical wool mills still left in Britain,
0:35:27 > 0:35:30meaning they complete all the processes on one site,
0:35:30 > 0:35:34from raw materials through to fabric finishing.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37Abraham Moon & Sons was founded in 1837,
0:35:37 > 0:35:41supplying fabric to the Leeds market throughout the 1800s,
0:35:41 > 0:35:45and, today, supplies many of the world's major fashion houses.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47I'm meeting manager director, John Walsh,
0:35:47 > 0:35:50to learn more about the history of the company,
0:35:50 > 0:35:53its founder, and the materials they produce for the modern-day market.
0:35:55 > 0:35:56- Hello, John.- Hello.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59- How are you?- Very nice to see you.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02Tell us a bit more about Abraham Moon.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05I gather he set up shop back in 1837.
0:36:05 > 0:36:07He started out as a merchant.
0:36:07 > 0:36:12But in the 1860s, he decided to set up a mill on this site.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14The reason for this site
0:36:14 > 0:36:17was that the railway would have just arrived
0:36:17 > 0:36:20and also we have our own artesian well,
0:36:20 > 0:36:21a source of natural water,
0:36:21 > 0:36:23and that is obviously crucial for the dyeing
0:36:23 > 0:36:25and the finishing of the fabrics.
0:36:25 > 0:36:29Quite why he changed from being a merchant to a manufacturer,
0:36:29 > 0:36:33we don't know. But he must have been quite an entrepreneur to do that.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36It's a major step, and it needs serious finance.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38He obviously understood the process very well.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41But tell us bit more about the process that you employ today?
0:36:41 > 0:36:44We buy in wool.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48We bring it in and dye it to constituent colours
0:36:48 > 0:36:50and then we blend,
0:36:50 > 0:36:54and that's part of our great secret and success,
0:36:54 > 0:36:57is that our yarns are tweed, heathered yarns
0:36:57 > 0:37:00made of multicoloured blends.
0:37:00 > 0:37:04We dye four, five, six, even seven colours in every single blend,
0:37:04 > 0:37:06and spin that into yarn.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08So your fabric has a wonderful depth to it.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11I mean, this, presumably, is some of your fabric that you're wearing.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15- It is.- I mean, is this what we end up with from this particular bin?
0:37:15 > 0:37:18It is - and the human eye, perhaps, from a distance,
0:37:18 > 0:37:19would see that as a solid colour.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21But when you get up close and personal,
0:37:21 > 0:37:23you can see the vibrancy of the yarn.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26See how many colours there are in there.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28So these are now ready to be spun into fabrics
0:37:28 > 0:37:30- that will go all over the world? - That's right.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33- That's the plan.- Right, let's have a look at your weaving process.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37Although the industry has, of course,
0:37:37 > 0:37:40continued to move forward with better machinery
0:37:40 > 0:37:42and greater efficiency,
0:37:42 > 0:37:44the processes themselves are not so different
0:37:44 > 0:37:46to those used 100 years ago.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49Despite increased competition in recent years
0:37:49 > 0:37:51from cheaper man-made fabrics,
0:37:51 > 0:37:54Moon's have maintained a focus on quality.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57Today, their product is more sought-after than ever -
0:37:57 > 0:37:59and two-thirds of their output is exported.
0:38:02 > 0:38:07John, this is obviously the noisiest part of the factory.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10It is indeed. We have 32 looms on this site.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12So they do make a little bit of noise. Yes.
0:38:12 > 0:38:17So at any one time you can be producing 32 different patterns?
0:38:17 > 0:38:20- That's right.- You're obviously dealing in a global market now.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22How much of your product goes for clothing,
0:38:22 > 0:38:26and how much of it goes for other textiles - say, upholstery?
0:38:26 > 0:38:27It's about half and half.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29We sell from a range,
0:38:29 > 0:38:31but we also make a lot of bespoke products
0:38:31 > 0:38:33and that's part of our USP.
0:38:33 > 0:38:35I gather that some of your products
0:38:35 > 0:38:38still goes to support a really famous local product?
0:38:38 > 0:38:39Yes, indeed.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41Let's go up to our showroom and meet Rhian.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43Right, which way? That way?
0:38:45 > 0:38:49In Victorian times, a man wouldn't be seen without a hat on his head.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52An upper class gent would have donned a top hat,
0:38:52 > 0:38:54a middle-class chap a bowler hat,
0:38:54 > 0:38:57and a working-class bloke would have worn a flat cap.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00In recent times, these hats have fallen out of fashion,
0:39:00 > 0:39:03except for one. I'm meeting designer and entrepreneur
0:39:03 > 0:39:07Rhian Kempadoo Millar in the showroom upstairs.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10- Hi, Rhian. Nice to see you. - Nice to meet you.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12You're looking very resplendent...
0:39:12 > 0:39:14- Thank you.- ..in your very fine Yorkshire cap.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17And look at this lot. A real taste of the county.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19How did it all begin for you?
0:39:19 > 0:39:22Well, I used to wear hats, particularly flat caps,
0:39:22 > 0:39:24when I was a girl.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27And when I was studying millinery at college,
0:39:27 > 0:39:29I started making my own flat caps.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31They are such a good all-rounder.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34You can see how the design has lasted so long.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37- Yeah.- But now you're giving it a new lease of life.
0:39:37 > 0:39:38Yeah. I just thought we'd take the flat cap
0:39:38 > 0:39:40so you can go out for the dog walk,
0:39:40 > 0:39:42or you could wear something on the catwalk, like this.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46- Could I?- Just put a twist on the flat cap.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49But, you know, very clever, and, again, clearly a flat cap.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51Now I love wearing hats.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53Can you suggest something here out of your collection
0:39:53 > 0:39:56- that would suit me? - You could try this one.- Yeah?
0:39:56 > 0:39:59- A bit more traditional. - A little bit more traditional.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02- There you go. That's the business. - It's terrific.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05Do you know what? It's so light, I don't even know I'm wearing it.
0:40:05 > 0:40:07But it will keep me nice and dry and warm.
0:40:07 > 0:40:08Rhian, thank you very much.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11- Best of luck.- Nice to meet you. Bye. - Cheers. Bye-bye.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13I love what Rhian is doing here.
0:40:13 > 0:40:14While the team at Moon's
0:40:14 > 0:40:17are producing their cloth in the time-honoured way,
0:40:17 > 0:40:20she's taking it forward to a different market,
0:40:20 > 0:40:24a different generation, and with new, innovative twists.
0:40:24 > 0:40:26I only wish I'd had my new flat cap
0:40:26 > 0:40:29at the start of our rather rainy search here in West Yorkshire.
0:40:34 > 0:40:36Well, my favourite part of any Escape To The Country
0:40:36 > 0:40:38has now arrived.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40It is, of course, that moment when we find out
0:40:40 > 0:40:44if we've been successful in our house search for our buyers.
0:40:44 > 0:40:45We've certainly given, I think,
0:40:45 > 0:40:47Graeme and Denise plenty to think about
0:40:47 > 0:40:51and some really good options at the right sort of price -
0:40:51 > 0:40:54but have we managed to find them anything they're going to buy?
0:40:54 > 0:40:55Well, let's go and ask them.
0:41:02 > 0:41:03Well, guys, here we are.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05It's the end of the process.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07And has it helped you evaluate
0:41:07 > 0:41:10what the property market here can give you?
0:41:10 > 0:41:14Absolutely. I think that's the most we've got out of the last few days,
0:41:14 > 0:41:16what our expectations,
0:41:16 > 0:41:21or how unrealistic our expectations probably were for the area.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24The trick was trying to find you something
0:41:24 > 0:41:26that offered you enough space.
0:41:26 > 0:41:33So, we put all of our eggs into our final basket, our Mystery House.
0:41:33 > 0:41:34That was quite exciting.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36I thought, "Aha."
0:41:36 > 0:41:37It was rural, which is what we wanted,
0:41:37 > 0:41:41but I certainly didn't want to be in an isolated position,
0:41:41 > 0:41:44and it wasn't that, just a few miles away from Todmorden.
0:41:44 > 0:41:48So you were very pleased with the room sizes,
0:41:48 > 0:41:51once we'd established there was somewhere for the railway
0:41:51 > 0:41:52in the outbuilding.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54What happens next?
0:41:54 > 0:41:56What we want to do is to go back,
0:41:56 > 0:41:57research the area more,
0:41:57 > 0:42:00because it's not somewhere that we are familiar with.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03Do you think it's one that you might move to?
0:42:03 > 0:42:07There's certainly a good possibility that we would make an offer on it.
0:42:07 > 0:42:08- Yes.- How interesting.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10Guys, it's been an absolute pleasure.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13I am thrilled that we've managed to get there at long last,
0:42:13 > 0:42:16even if it was with our final roll of the dice, with our Mystery House.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18- But it is often the way.- Yeah.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20Lovely, and thank you very much for all your help.
0:42:20 > 0:42:21- Thank you.- Our pleasure.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29Denise and Graeme's Escape To The Country is now,
0:42:29 > 0:42:31I hope, well under way -
0:42:31 > 0:42:34and while they start attending to all the details they'll need to sort
0:42:34 > 0:42:36in order to make their new life happen,
0:42:36 > 0:42:38I've got a little job of my own,
0:42:38 > 0:42:40to break in my first...
0:42:41 > 0:42:44..and rather lovely Yorkshire cap -
0:42:44 > 0:42:47and on a day like this, typical Yorkshire weather,
0:42:47 > 0:42:49it's just what you need. I'll see you next time.
0:42:51 > 0:42:54Denise and Graeme decided to extend their search area,
0:42:54 > 0:42:56and have since had an offer accepted
0:42:56 > 0:42:58on a property on the West Coast of Cumbria.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01We wish them all the best with their move.
0:43:01 > 0:43:03If you'd like to Escape To The Country
0:43:03 > 0:43:06in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales or England and need our help,
0:43:06 > 0:43:10then please apply online at...